The Forgotten Stratocaster Sound?! | Friday Fretworks

[@ChrisBuckGuitar]

Key points: 0:00 - Jam! 1:14 - The forgotten Stratocaster sound? 1:43 - Some history... 2:05 - What did Leo Fender want? 2:40 - The most influential Strat player EVER? 3:18 - Cliff Richard?! 3:31 - Derek is Eric. 3:58 - Bridge of Sighs 4:10 - Jam! 5:36 - Jerry, Bonnie, Lowell Jimmie and John. 6:32 - The great Sultans of Swing debate! 7:43 - Why should I use the middle pickup?

[@rocknrollguitar]

Well, my pickup and tone secret.. Check out the video I did on it on Ig instagram.com/tv/B9NKRQXgStG/?igshid=rcp9p0o6w8gt You will be in amazeballs what diversity a strat can have

[@ziggylayneable]

It hurts my heart to even hear Lowell's name spoken out loud... I miss I loved that man more than Bonnie Raitt..lol

[@frankrussell1036]

There’s actually some that believe Slow Dancing in a Burning Room was recorded on the middle pickup but played live in pos. 4. Not sure if this is true or not, but I’ve messed with it and you can get pretty darn close to the studio tone with the middle pickup.

[@Tomcaster1]

Hi Chris on the Mark Knopfler tone. You are right. It is the middle pickup and that district but bitey roundness is coming from an Orange Squeezer compressor paired with an Aphex Exciter. It's not a difficult tone to recreate once you pull in these two effects. The solo track in the second part of the recording also has a gentle studio chorus.

[@onyxshepard5057]

You prolly dont care at all but does someone know of a way to log back into an Instagram account? I somehow lost my login password. I appreciate any assistance you can give me.

[@RJRonquillo]

YES! The middle pickup was my go-to pickup when I first started, because I didn't know anything about "tone", so I figured "middle" is a safe choice lol.

[@ChrisBuckGuitar]

Haha. I like your thinking! I hope you’re well mate ☺️

[@MFKitten]

I always thought the middle pickup sounded the best. It has throaty yet solid qualities.

[@whynottalklikeapirat]

I mainly play the middle pickup. Just sits right for most tunes, live ...

[@user-nu7xx7pc1d]

logical decision!

[@dewaode03]

same with me, since i can't control the tone on my strat bridge pickup i gets overly bright..

[@natedogsturdikat8538]

Once you stop ignoring the middle pickup, you’ll find it quickly becomes a go to for that balance of treble clarity and full range. Personal favorite for rhythm parts

[@superbroadcaster]

Every time I pick up a strat, it almost always stays at the middle pickup

[@RobertNolan]

The middle position, arguably the original sweet spot of the Strat.

[@RobChappers]

Awesome video man!!!

[@ChrisBuckGuitar]

Ah, cheers Rob! I hope you’re well mate ☺️

[@Tonetwisters]

Opening playing is some of the sweetest I have heard ... Middle pickup is the "piano" pickup. And thanks for recognizing Buddy as the STARTER Stratocaster player! And the TWO notch position sound effectiveness depends on how high the middle pickup is in relation to the bridge pickup. And Stevie Ray loved the middle pickup! Thanks for doing this one! Right up my alley!

[@yetanotherbassdude]

As always, your playing is some of the most gorgeous and tasteful stuff out there. Really can't wait for the venues to reopen as you're pretty much top of my list of artists to see live when they do!

[@ARCHDEACONMUSIC]

I totally agree! I've been working on learning what he played on Paul David's new collaboration video as Chris's improv was my favorite! If you haven't seen it definitely check it out for sure! :)

[@mcneilohara1463]

That jam was one of the nicest melodies I've ever heard. You can predict where it will go next, it feels like it's part of my brain before I've even heard it

[@switchbacksentence1244]

Your playing blows me away everytime Chris. Amazing touch.

[@thebreakfastmenu]

Pink Floyd's "Echoes" is a great middle pickup song.

[@christopherthomsen3926]

Really?? What parts?

[@thebreakfastmenu]

@@christopherthomsen3926 All the rhythm parts

[@christopherthomsen3926]

@@thebreakfastmenu Ok thanks, did not know that

[@fivewattworld]

Wonderful insight Chris! Going to be going to the “normal” position tomorrow!

[@ChrisBuckGuitar]

Haha. Cheers Keith! I hope you're well mate :)

[@jnelson1600]

Uh oh, I predict a “A Brief History of the Middle Pickup” video coming. Love you both 👍🏻

[@lewis7890]

Oh man, the opening jam just beautiful. Delicate and soulful

[@dime_life4768]

Love this! Ive heard way too many times that nobody uses the middle pickup. Its where some of the best strat sounds come from when used right. Excellent playing mate!

[@averagejoe363]

I feel like SRV definitely used the middle pickup a lot with his songs. I usually gravitate towards the middle and neck for blues. Maybe it's just my strat but I don't really like the bridge pickup. If I wanted the bridge sound I'd just go for a tele. But "Pride and Joy" at max volume on the middle pickup is amazing! Also John Mayer's use of the middle pickup on "Bold as Love" is incredible. I use the middle pickup for blues rhythm and some lead until I switch to the neck when tension builds up. I love the middle pickup and it does indeed get overlooked

[@SirVicc]

Being more of a humbucker guy, I love the middle Strat pickup for distortion. Sounds more balanced and full.

[@RUARI-mi1yt]

eww humbuckers

[@AbsoluteAbsurd]

Even though im not the one playing, I make the weirdest “guitar faces” when listening to the intro jams, lol!

[@ChrisBuckGuitar]

Haha! Thank you 😆

[@c0nfused138]

Me too! I make faces about all the time

[@michaelgallagher3640]

Maybe you should try a laxative.

[@rolux4853]

Michael Gallagher thanks that helped!

[@AllyLeon]

Ohhh Yeah. Same here. Feel every bit of it. Amazing Player. Changes the way I breathe. Lol.

[@rrben29]

The middle pickup is honestly my favorite pickup. Happy to see it getting some love and attention from others!

[@jpduplessis9752]

SRV played quite a lot of his hits in the middle position (Pride and Joy, Scuttle Buttin', Hideaway, Look at Little Sister, etc.) to name a few, and at live shows he made particularly heavy use of it. Listen to his "In The Beginning" album, it's absolutely full of middle pickup strat tones.

[@adhoc37]

Came back especially just to leave a comment for this really interesting and original video - thank you. Having just acquired a 70s strat I was toying with giving it a 5-way switch instead of its original 'contemporary' 3 way. I now plan to leave it as it was.

[@claesmalmberg7925]

YOUR playing is just amazing

[@7775Kevin]

Why would anyone give this a thumbs down? I will never understand this world. Playing too good? Sounds great Chris.

[@simonhall2682]

Love the knowledge and enthusiasm in this vid. Will definitely give the middle pickup some more love!

[@jeffreyeagen4896]

I just picked up a parts-caster at my local guitar shop. The guy said he couldn't remember what pickups are in it but they were real screamers. I bought it and plugged it in when I got home. The first thing I noticed was how awesome the middle pickup sounded!! I've never heard a sss guitar with a middle pickup that sounded that good!! And the you post this video! Haha. Even if you hadn't posted this particular video I'd be using the middle pickup ALOT on this guitar!!!

[@DizzySaxophone]

About a year ago I really started to fall in love with the strat middle pickup. Want a rich, clear, glassy sound? Middle pickup.

[@seanfitzpatrick7878]

There are a couple songs that I've been playing for over 30 years of which I've developed certain solos for. I've worked and tweaked them time and time again to get all of the sweet notes, the most interesting phrasing and singable melodies and just when I think I have something worthwhile, I listen to 30 seconds of you soloing and everything you play is so much better than anything I've written. That was a very round about way of saying, you are an amazing musician Chris...

[@JayMoreau]

I got a ‘63 Custom shop last year. I don’t intend to install a 5 way switch. The middle pickup is probably my favorite sound on the guitar.

[@AbsoluteAbsurd]

I love the middle tone, its got that sort of “crystal” or “jangly chingly twang” sound to it, this one song I love uses it in the verses which is how I sort of started to acknowledge it more. Then I realised in Garageband that the Les Paul touch instrument sounds exactly like the middle pickup!

[@DMSProduktions]

RORY loved his middle pick up as well! (Had a '61 with 3 posi switch!)

[@GuitarFeels]

Even though Stevie Ray Vaughan isn't usually associated with that sound, he definitely DID use the middle pickup alone! The beginning of "pride and joy" live is a clear example. We should embrace the "quackiness" more :D

[@christianboddum8783]

I recently played Tightrope, and used the middle position for the solo. When listening back on the recording, it was evident that it was as close as I've ever been on getting his lead tone :-)

[@matthewgrimm5383]

I have read his middle pickup was a dummy to cut down on hum

[@christianboddum8783]

@@AuntAlnico4 No never had the chance, to my memory ;-)

[@bfr123456]

Yep, I saw him in 87’ and he used all the positions often, even flicked it from neck to bridge like Hendrix once did

[@bpabustan]

His brother Jimmie use the middle pickup by itself lots of time too.

[@peterforrest6682]

Hi Chris. Can't get enough of watching and listening to that opening blues jam you do in this video....thanks so much for sharing it with us. Please come and play in Cape Town...when we can travel again....

[@TheScaleModelShack]

I don’t think I’ll ever tire of hearing you play Chris, like the great Mark K you have your very own unique thing going on... brilliant stuff man 👍

[@stevealliemusic]

An old friend of mine who played strat through the 60's reminded me that the players would often set the pickup switch between the middle and other pickups by gently moving the switch part way and finding a place where it would stay. The down side was that any pressure on the switch would cause it to pop out of position and drop into one side or the other. The upside was that depending on where you got the switch to stay, you would always get a slightly different sound each time. The 5 way switch made it easier to get the sound, but any variation was gone.

[@HENRYHSM2112]

Wonderful !!! I love the middle pickup of my stratocaster !!! The neck pickup is broken and it will stay that way for a long time ... :)

[@waltseher7115]

Dude. You have no idea how many sleepless nights my ADHD compulsive brain has hyperfocused on this question. And, here it is, you finally put my mind to rest!! I've been a Tele player, for years, till I got my hands on my first Strat. I've asked everybody, WTF is this middle pickup for!!! Now it all makes sense, and you actually have evidence to back it up!! Dude. I swear. Thank you for this video!

[@SidBonkers51]

Im a long time Strat player and have always liked the "standard pickup" but recently Ive been playing more and more in the middle position I just love the 'quack' it produces.

[@JonWickensMusic]

Genuinely love using the middle pickup on my strat! Use it so much! It’s a great sound

[@davidclarke9783]

I Love the 335 Gibson 1964 ,, Clapton plays it mostly in the studio,, but look up him playing one from 1994 in Hyde Park Have you ever loved a Woman..Brilliant sound.

[@shobudski6776]

His Gibson tone was and is much better than his Fender tone.

[@benskurbe]

The lineage of legends continues: Hendrix->SRV->John Mayer->Chris Buck

[@nathank6468]

Dmr45 I know why is Mayer in there hahahah

[@benskurbe]

Dmr45 which part are you upset about

[@benskurbe]

Nathan Kimberly Mayer’s better than SRV but aight

[@Ahaok34]

@@benskurbeWhat the fuck.

[@michaelbrooks5178]

www.guitarworld.com/artists/the-30-best-blues-guitarists-in-the-world-today Number 5, John Mayer. Number 15, Chris Buck.

[@Hopkins132]

Your videos make me so calm, thanks man.

[@voxshall]

When I first got a vintage strat I was surprised that the middle pickup with the vol rolled back a bit was giving me a inbetween 2 or 4 sound that had more body and could cut through the mix a bit more, love having this 3 way strat to compliment my other strat with a 5 way switch.

[@conqueringviking]

I never played on the middle position ever until I bought your signature radio shop id’s 🤘🏻

[@wendystarita7996]

This is Brian Kim Keenan. I read someplace that Clapton would put the switch ( 5 way or three way switch), in a position not indented or natural to the switch. It was between the middle pickup and the neck pickup. But the switch was just riding between the second and third place between the middle and the neck pickup. Some switches aren't capable of doing this. I have actually seen clapton adjusting his strat to this position. It sounds great. Thank you.

[@jameskrys5286]

I read Clapton's book. He hates Rosewood finger boards. I hear Jerry Garcia liked the middle pickup a lot.

[@jackgreen8522]

Tong Zou there was an interview from Clapton saying he hated how rosewood felt as if it resisted bending

[@VoxMax1200]

I'd like to ask SRV and Rory Galagher the same .. But about the maple neck. Jimmy didn't really care. The 1969 RAH concert is an example. Beck used a both .. And Knopfler ..

[@ExcalibursEdge]

I read it too. What a great biography! I also have the audio version on my ipod.

[@bobbys4327]

Yeah, Eric said the grain bugged him when bending.

[@bumblefritz]

He talks about his switch to maple in his Fender Brownie Stratocaster video.

[@leeallen3626]

Well done! Very interestingly informed perspective, great photos and playing, as well - thanks!

[@jasonyltan7672]

Okay! Im gonna use the middle pickup right now. Thanks Chris.

[@Smellthegloveee]

Your tone always sounds the best with that highway 1.

[@Hitperson]

As usual Chris your playing is a joy to hear, it's just so soulful! was thinking earlier that i'd love to see yourself and Pete Thorn having a Jam (remembering your TGU video)

[@ChrisBuckGuitar]

Cheers man. And yeah, I'd love to jam with Pete. He's a great player and one of the nicest blokes I've ever met. Canadians, eh?!

[@Hitperson]

@@ChrisBuckGuitar yeah, a characteristic of both Canadians and the Welsh is they both seem to be the nicest people going.

[@awkipintee]

Awesome information. Not only a fantastic player but a trivia hero as well. Keep em coming chris🙏👌

[@nvr2old700]

Great video clarifying this Chris. Interestingly had just finished watching a Trower video and noted his use of the middle pickup.

[@jordmosselman3403]

Nice one Chris! That sound from Bridge of Sighs is killer, reminded me instantly of Jimi. Till next, Grtz!!

[@Ale2065Tate]

The intro is That's life-esque, so classy

[@joshmuz9018]

Man that intro legit sounded 100% like Derek trucks if he was told to play a solo but couldn't use his slide. I've never heard anyone else sound so much like Derek trucks before.

[@pauly1053]

It is one of the most beautiful bits of play I have ever heard. Please tab this!

[@LousReview]

Great vid! The Jimmie Vaughn Signature strat touts the middle pickup as being the "special" pickup on that strat!

[@PhreddCrintt]

I so want to get to one of your gigs Chris. Stay safe.

[@Ticolocosf]

Dang Chris! You are quite the brilliant player... as good as I've ever heard! Gonna spend the summer catching up to all you have posted and stick on through! Thanks for all your offerings!

[@TheSWhole]

BTW - end of the 70s two versions of "Sultans of Swing" came out. Two different recordings, not just a different mix. The single-version, where MK used bridge and middle pickup. This version was played on the radio and this version was in the top ten. It was shortened by one verse. The second version - a less sparkling version, appeared on the first album. Here MK used only the middle pickup. This version "survived" on CD and is nowadays played occasionally on the radio. Both versions can be found on KZbin. And also a third version, the single vinyl version with all verses can be found.

[@LennyJohnson5]

TheSWhole Great info. Cheers.

[@PanhandlePrepping]

My guy Jurgen Klopp said... “I’m the normal one.” So from now on, I will forever call the middle pickup, the Klopp! Excellent video, Buck...very interesting stuff and a killer intro as always! 🎸🔥

[@lilTwigLP]

Haha great idea

[@Wolfoe-ex2jj]

Now we’re naming pickups?! What’s next, bridges, tuners...*looks around* frets?

[@DenisAhmet]

Buddy Holly all the way on your outro. Thanks Chris for your informative video and your unique style of playing.

[@kyledavis828]

Seriously underrated channel

[@eggman1978]

Great playing. I need to make more use of that middle pick up

[@davidLPST]

Chris, wonderful playing as always.

[@jasong546]

He still does...I never understood the distaste of it. Great video Chris cheers!

[@YourAverageStrummer]

To me The middle pickup is the strat sound I hear on my head. I currently have a 5-way selector wired on my strat but to be perfectly honest I could do with 'only' a 3-way since I mostly used the bridge and middle pickup anyways.

[@nolanr7679]

Eric Clapton is the reason I'm a guitar player.

[@nosmoking2933]

Errick Klaptun is my preference

[@doolbro]

Same for me. I picked up the guitar 16 years ago and now I make a living doing it. I played in a Cream cover band for years, lmao.

[@kevinkelly9956]

I started playing guitar before we had heard about Clapton in the States. But he def tought me to attack the guitar. Just don't 'play' the guitar. Shortly after Hendrix used the nuclear option. lol

[@TheHouseaholics]

That start up jam! Perfect EC.. I closed my eye and all I can see is EC at the Albert hall.. well done Chris

[@nealatthecrossfishing]

Me as well. It was Layla!!!!!! “Like a fool I fell in love with you, you turned my whole world upside down”!

[@robinmiller7958]

Always love to hear you play. Great touch.

[@joeltunnah]

I like that the early Fender company had ideas about what each pickup and switch setting should be used for. "Deep rhythm", "normal", "lead". It's cool to delve into this stuff.

[@simonwilliams9916]

Funnily I’ve spent the last 30 years playing pretty much all the time on the middde pickup. Only since meeting you on the Guitar Breaks Holiday have I started using the in between sounds. 🎸🤘🏻👍🎸🤘🏻👍

[@brunovidana7837]

Most underrated position on a strat, I love using it for clean arpeggios, spanky rhythm tones and lead tones that cut through the mix without the bass of the neck or the ice-pickiness of the bridge

[@thepowerbill1]

Great video and fantastically tasteful licks as well. Going to play the middle position right now... something I almost never do. Thanks mate!

[@fernandes5986]

Escelent video. I had never noticed that EC used his middle pickup so much. Loved those EC and Trower recriations, your playin' and note are superb.

[@caleshtcincredibles]

Great video, yeh mate I am going to use the middle position more as well , totally forgotten and never used in my playing, that is all about to change !

[@Jmorris433]

awesome playing as always and awesome research! really appreciate the effort gone into your videos

[@richardgray8593]

Thanks for playing without backing tracks. I love hearing just your guitar alone.

[@miguelpessanha]

Mayer started using more of the middle pickup after touring with Dead Company and getting the Silver Sky. The clean intro section of Changing is also middle.

[@Deliquescentinsight]

Always liked that middle PUP tone personally, it projects

[@sonofboar13]

One of the players that inspired me to play Stratocasters, Albert Hammond Jr. from the Strokes, exclusively uses the middle pick up. I personally love the sound of the middle pickup. It reminds me sort of a harmony or silver tone guitar with that lipstick pickup right in the middle. I find the middle Stratocaster pickup highly underrated.

[@j.rozman7016]

Great episode!! Laurence Jones also uses middle PU on his vintage Stratocaster a lot!! I have Fender CS strat with handwound Josefina Ancho Poblano PUs and middle position kinda sounds towards LP teritory to my ear. Another proof that stratocaster is the best guitar ever designed. Leo really was genius!

[@bruceboome]

Nice playing. You ace the tones. Your That'll Be The Day was spot on. Being a few generations older than you, I don't have to rely on anecdotes, as I was there. I had 3 L series +/_ "61 Strats. You hear lots of nonsense about who discovered the "in-between" tone, but I knew about it from about "64, and I live in South Africa. It bothered me that I couldn't get to it quickly and that I often had to go from rhythm to lead, which took too long. I took the guitar to my Dad (who was a bit of a genius), and he took the Strat apart and made a circuit diagram. My only participation in the process was to tell him what I wanted. He put 3 bedside lamp switches next to the pickup selector which gave me any combination of pickups. Note that this was about '65. To fix the lead/rhythm problem he put a switch and volume pot on the top left bout that isolated the neck pup (just like a Jazzmaster, though neither of us knew it at the time). This enabled me to preset my lead tone before the song started. What we both missed were the commercial implications. We could have done really well, as other people only caught on in the mid to late 70s. Nowadays I use a '94 Strat with Kinman pups and 9-way switching, which cost a lot more.

[@voodoodr]

Chris, wonderful intro bro! Still watching.

[@MintStiles]

Chris can make anything sound pretty amazing. I do feel that only SOME strats have a decent middle pickup that has a decent balance on clarity vs output. Probabaly helps to wire the tone at the bridge pickup only and leave position 3 wide open and shape on the pedals IMO of course.

[@riosax1536]

Great informative video and playing of course , thanks !

[@szymondudzinski6661]

Albert Hammond Jr. of The Strokes was a notorious middle pickup user on their first album, Is This It. Though out of 11 songs only 6 have guitar solos, out of which only 3 are played by Albert (Last Nite, Trying Your Luck and Take It Or Leave It, the other ones are played by Nick with his Epiphone Riviera), his rhythm work is also iconic to the sound of that early 2000's garage rock

[@adamrrichards]

That tapped harmonic at 0:37 . Yes.

[@jonljacobi]

Sweet playing. And I go back far enough to remember he three position conundrum. You learned quickly not to hit the switch or bang the guitar hard!

[@aristeas]

FWIW I think Knopfler used the middle mickup for the rhythm part on Espresso Love. I can get the exact same tone on my '96 Strat Plus with Lace Sensor Gold p/ups. Absolutely 'to die for ' tone. BTW Love your work Chris, no ego, plenty of real information and nice playing.

[@berndkoelbl3852]

Good contribution Chris ! A good theme well ( and right ) explained and really good guitar playing ! Cool !

[@jeremiahhiggins84]

One of the best young guitar players around. Damn play on!!

[@johnbrady1211]

Chris is a great guitarist! Man, I love watching how he gets that sound out of his guitar.

[@georgesarris5556]

The middle is my favourite pic up for solo's, while playing rhythm on the bridge.

[@antondoornekamp9635]

Well for me this has always been my favorite strat sound to play with.

[@JONNIE_ROCKER]

I've used My old original 74 grey bottom pickups and pots for 26 years now. And They still have my go to tone position 4

[@spoonsmith9506]

Neck and middle in parallel out of phase tone rolled down more than half. One of the greatest sounds from a strat.

[@Geronimo122]

Nice playing on this-- sounds great!

[@alexanderroesch2287]

7:30 - Mark Knopfler occasionally used a modified pickup set with a high output, 13 kOhm, DiMarzio FS-1 in the middle position. It is conceivable that playing in position 2, with such a setup, would result in a tone that is ALMOST like being on the middle pickup only, but with a bit of "quack" mixed in from the much weaker bridge pickup.

[@GerryBlue]

Very good points, certainly the isolated solo of Sultans of Swing sounds like a bridge pickup for sure

[@aidandunnigan4034]

Seen you in guitarguitar in Glasgow a bit ago, very good pop up gig

[@sylvestre.rawminey]

I really love the middle pickup too !

[@jerrystephenson1172]

I'm a neck pu. guy mostly or .+ middle or sometimes middle + bridge but never bridge alone.

[@KevyNova]

Nice playing and video! As for myself, I use the middle pickup for most of my rhythm playing and switch to the neck or bridge for lead. I never ever use positions 2 & 4.

[@chrissteffers6931]

great video Chris. I use the midle pickup 80% of the time. recent I lean towards the bridge pickup. Maybe because I bought the THR10II recently and it sounds so good, even in the mix.